Editors’ Notes

Australia's Lenka Kripac—whose single "The Show" cracked the U.K.'s Top 40 and went to No. 1 in Poland—has moved to the U.S., where her melodic pop has yet to take deep root in the public consciousness. That's a shame, since for her third album, Shadows, Lenka captures a beautiful vibe. On orchestrated tunes such as "Nothing," her somber memories balance the present and the past. Elements of her sound reach toward retro—at her best she sounds like one of Serge Gainsbourg's jilted lovers—but she's also clearly involved in present-day Los Angeles, where hipsters gorge themselves on vintage keyboards, horns, and strings. The album's muted quality may be partly attributable to Lenka being pregnant with her first child during the recording. Should the pretty harmonies of "Nothing Here but Love," the gentle keyboards and horns of "Honeybee," and the intimacy of "Two Heartbeats" strike you as also sounding like music for young people, this explains why. Lenka's taking us with her through the experience of a lifetime.

Customer Reviews

Best Lenka Yet

by
Guerre

She's really maturing as an artist. If you are a fan, be sure to catch her US tour starting June 2013. Cheap tickets and intimate venues. She's such a superstar in Asia I bet they would die to know how close the tix are to the stage here!

Beautiful, sweet, sensual, and serene

by
jkulyan

Lenka amazes me yet again with her unique ability to astonish and sooth with her delicate, yet powerful voice. Shadows does depart substantially from the sassy, robust, and somewhat in-your-face melodies found on her previous CD entitled "Two," however this album is in some ways a culmination of her last two musical efforts; Shadows definitely contains many of the magical, fun, and light-hearted elements that have long made this Australian singer a favorite of adults and children alike, but it also addresses some of the more serious and somber things that adults encounter in their daily lives. The song "Monsters" alludes to the fears that people face as a result of things chosen and choices yet to be made, while "Find a Way to You" deals with breaking down the walls around someone's heart and allowing that person to feel love again. Other songs, such as "Heart to the Party," and "Two Heartbeats," were almost certainly written for a younger audience, or for those forever young at heart. Basically, the album "Shadows" is indeed what the review says: A lullaby for both adults and children. Although it's odd to admit at my age, I actually listen to songs from Shadows or sometimes one of Lenka's other albums as a way to wind down and relax before going to sleep at night. If hearing a slightly different side of Lenka's musical talent sounds intriguing to you, definitely check out this album. Shadows offers something unique and captivating for everyone's ears.

Good touching

by
Zach_Hansen_

Sounds beautiful touching album for love rainy day and soft music

Biography

Born: March 19, 1978 in Bega, New South Wales, Australia

Genre: Pop

Years Active: '00s, '10s

Taking a break from her duties as vocalist and keyboardist for Australia's Decoder Ring, songwriter Lenka Kripac relocated to Los Angeles and began crafting eclectic, atmospheric pop songs under her forename. Her solo material took its cues from artists like Jem and Björk, with Lenka pitting her breathy vocals against landscapes of electronic drumbeats, horns, and twinkling piano. A former child actor who'd studied under Cate Blanchett, she also brought a sense of theatricality to her music, and...